LAGOS HIGH COURT HOLDS VALEDICTORY SESSION IN HONOUR OF CHIEF BABATUNDE BENSON
It was a day of glowing tributes as the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday held a valedictory court session in honour of late Chief Babatunde Benson, SAN, who died on the 24th of June, 2021, at his residence in Ikorodu area of the State.
Chief Babatunde Benson, who died at the age of 89 years after serving the nation and the judicial sector meritoriously for 68 years, was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in recognition of his contributions to the development of law and nation building in 1983.
In his valedictory speech in honour of the late jurist, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba described the deceased as a gentleman par excellence and an accomplished Jurist.
He said the late Chief Benson left a legacy of excellent service marked with courage, discipline, integrity and great industry while serving the duties of his office creditably.
On his part, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said Chief Benson was a super active bar man, whose integrity and brilliance earned him the respect of his peers throughout the length and breadth of the country.
According to the Commissioner, Chief Benson lived a life of committed service to the legal profession in diverse capacities.
Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Paul Usoro, described him as an Icon, adding that the late legal luminary was a leading light to Nigerian lawyers, whose way of life can be learned from.
In the same vein, the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, represented by Chief Tunji Ayanlaja, said the late jurist would be remembered for having mentored the bulk of the Senior Lawyers in the country.
“We are consoled in the fact that by his contribution to the dispensation of justice in this State, he has no doubt left his footprints on the sands of time. He has come, he has fought and he has left the baton and the stage for us to carry on”, he added.
Chief Babatunde Benson was the first and only legal practitioner to serve as General-Secretary and President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
He was Chairman of the African Bar Association and Vice-Chairman of Commonwealth Lawyers Association. The Late Jurist was also the first Chairman of the Socio-Cultural and Development Group, Ikorodu and until his demise, the Chairman of Lagos State Lagoon movement.
Chief Babatunde Benson will be buried on Friday, 16th July, 2021.
OI/TMS/OS
